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The Portland Trail Blazers look to shake off back-to-back losses when they begin a four-game Eastern Conference road trip with a visit to the slumping Miami Heat on Thursday. The Blazers own a 15-6 mark against sub-.500 teams, which looms large since none of their next four opponents has a winning record. Miami was among the league's hottest teams with an 11-1 tear that lasted nearly a month before hitting a wall with a four-game losing streak over the past week. Both teams were active during the 2021 NBA trade deadline, though the lines haven't moved significantly in response to any moves. 

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET at AmericanAirlines Arena. William Hill Sportsbook lists Miami as a two-point favorite, while the over-under for total points scored is 217.5 in the latest Blazers vs. Heat odds. Before finalizing any Heat vs. Blazers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it has returned more than $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $1,200 on its top-rated picks this season, and dating back to last year, it enters Week 14 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 91-53 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Trail Blazers vs. Heat. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Heat vs. Trail Blazers:

  • Blazers vs. Heat spread: Heat -2
  • Blazers vs. Heat over-under: 217.5 points
  • Blazers vs. Heat money line: Miami -130, Portland +110
  • POR: The Blazers commit the second-fewest turnovers at 11.0 per game
  • MIA: Heat Gs Avery Bradley (calf) and Goran Dragic (back) are questionable for Thursday

Why the Blazers can cover

All-Star point guard Damian Lillard missed all seven 3-point attempts en route to a 19-point outing vs. Dallas on Sunday, ending a streak of 22 consecutive games in which he scored at least 20. He has feasted on the Heat over the years, averaging 25.1 points in 16 career matchups, and collected 67 points and 20 assists in two meetings last season. Lillard is perfect from the free throw line over the past five games, converting all 45 attempts.

Center Enes Kanter was among the bright spots in Tuesday's loss to Brooklyn, scoring 19 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. It was the ninth double-double in the past 13 games for Kanter, who is averaging a career-best 11.6 rebounds. Second-leading scorer CJ McCollum (23.8 points per game) has knocked down at least four 3-pointers in nine of his last 12 games while Gary Trent has hit at least three in five of the past eight contests.

Why the Heat can cover

Leading scorer Jimmy Butler (21.9 points per game) had his lowest offensive output in over a month but still notched his second straight double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds against Phoenix. He has shot at least 50 percent from the floor in nine of his last 10 games, a span in which he has averaged 8.4 rebounds.

Guard Kendrick Nunn finally snapped out of his 3-point shooting doldrums, connecting on 5 of 9 in Tuesday's loss to Phoenix after hitting just 10 of 42 in his previous nine games. Center Bam Adebayo, who is second on the team in scoring (19.2 points and assists (5.4), has registered 11 double-doubles in his last 16 games. He averaged 16.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two meetings against the Blazers last season.

How to make Heat vs. Blazers picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 225 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Heat vs. Blazers? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that on a roll on NBA picks.